A Georgia man accused of shooting his 18-year-old ex during a Christmas Eve drive and leaving her on a Denville roadside is now staring down federal kidnapping and weapons charges. The woman, identified by family as India Heath, was shot in the abdomen on Dec. 24, 2025, suffered a spinal-cord injury that left her paralyzed, and has undergone multiple surgeries. Prosecutors say 37-year-old Jovan Young was arrested on Dec. 25, and a federal complaint was filed in Newark on March 31, 2026.
Federal charges and penalties
According to a March 31 press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Jersey, Young is charged in a two-count complaint with kidnapping and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. The kidnapping charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, while the firearms count carries up to 15 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000.
What the complaint alleges
As laid out in a Justice Department filing, the victim called 911 at about 6:12 p.m. on Dec. 24 and told dispatchers she had been shot, saying "he shot me" and that she was "dead" before the call disconnected. The complaint alleges Young then drove her from New York to New Jersey against her will, kept her trapped in his vehicle for several hours, and ultimately left her on the side of a road in or around Denville. Investigators later recovered a Glock 48 with a green laser and magazines that matched the description the victim provided.
Family, recovery and local reporting
Family members identified the victim as 18-year-old India Heath and organized a fundraiser stating she suffered severe liver and spine injuries and has undergone multiple surgeries, with a young daughter waiting for her return to Georgia, as reported by Patch. Local coverage notes a good Samaritan who helped lead to her discovery and a GoFundMe created by relatives to help cover medical and travel expenses.
Investigation, arrest and next steps
Police tracked Young to Boonton on Dec. 25, where authorities say he was carrying luggage and was found with the firearm, magazines and ammunition described in court papers. He was ordered detained after his initial federal appearance. The U.S. Attorney credited the FBI’s North Jersey Violent Crimes Task Force, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, and the Denville and Boonton police departments with the investigation. Young now faces proceedings in federal court in Newark, while state charges remain a possibility.
